Medical luggage bags and curb service at the airport + a few other questions, please

[Bete]

Can you do this? Are they set up at the curb for medical bags to be received there?

Also,I haven't flown since luggage fees started up. We've been doing car trips for a while. Do you pay luggage fees beforehand when you buy your air tickets? I somewhat think until the bags are weighed you won't know what to pay. So, again can this be all taken care of at curb service?

Finally, what's the going rate for tips for curb service.

TIA

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Sometimes you get a reduced fee if you pre-pay baggage fees. Check your airline's website for information.

The check-in baggage fee cost is set, so you don't have to worry about how much your bags weigh, unless you think they are going to be over the weight limit for your airline. Again, check the website.

Usually the tip is $1.00 per bag checking in at curbside.

 

[Piper]

If the bag strictly contains medical supplies, you do not have to pay for it. You are also allowed to take it to the gate and gate check it. I have never checked one curb-side. I always take it with me on the plane. I just feel the contents are safer (especially in a climate controlled area.)

 

[peemagg]

With medical supplies (unless it is something like diapers or nothing of any value), I would not check it. I highly suggest that you keep it with you. As when checking medical supplies, they do not count against your carry on luggage as long as that is all that is in there.

 

[wuv tigger]

With medical supplies (unless it is something like diapers or nothing of any value), I would not check it. I highly suggest that you keep it with you. As when checking medical supplies, they do not count against your carry on luggage as long as that is all that is in there.

Just wondering. I just want to make sure that I am clear on the medical supplies.

I will have to bring my Rx meds w/ original bottles & my hand held neb machine and ONLY that would be in one carry on.

Would it still count as medical supplies? And count against my carry on? Does that make sense?

 

[peemagg]

Just wondering. I just want to make sure that I am clear on the medical supplies.

I will have to bring my Rx meds w/ original bottles & my hand held neb machine and ONLY that would be in one carry on.

Would it still count as medical supplies? And count against my carry on? Does that make sense?

Yes it is considered as medical supplies and does not count against your carry on.

 

[Piper]

Only pack medical supplies in the bag. If there is anything else in it, they could deny it as medical. I'm not saying they will, but it is a possibility.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I never bring the original pill bottles. I have a couple of daily containers; one I use for my morning pills and the other for my dinnertime pills. I put them my CPAP machine, syringes, a BP machine and a blood sugar tester all in a backpack. There is no way in the world I will ever check that; it is always with me in the cabin when flying.

And I carry around a card that lists all my medications. I have never been challenged about not having the medicines in their original containers, and I tend do do about five air round trips a year.

When going through Security I do have to take the CPAP machine out and put it in a separate bin as a computer.

 

[SueM in MN]

Medical supplies carried onto the plane do not count against your baggage allowance, as long as that bag is the correct size for a carry on and it contains only medical supplies. As long as the supplies in that bag are things you need because of your medical condition, it won't count.

For checked bags, it becomes a little murkier.
The law says they can't charge for carryon luggage full of medical supplies that are needed during the flight. They can allow checked bags with medical supplies on for free, but that is not required.
Most airlines will waive the baggage fee as a courtesy if the checked bag contains only medical supplies, but they are getting wise to 'tricks' people might play to avoid paying fees. On another board, I saw a 'hint' from someone who was planning to avoid the fees by putting a small amount of medical supplies in each of his bags and claiming all the bags were 'medical. As Piper mentioned, they can check if they want to and would charge if they were suspicious.

As far as bag fees, as the other posters mentioned, you can pay them at check in. There are sometimes discounts for paying on line or for using a credit card the is associated with the airline.
If your bags are overweight, there is an additional fee. If you have already prepaid the bag fee and the bag is overweight when they weigh it, they will just charge the additional cost to you.

 

[KPeveler]

i usually prefer indoor check in rather than curb side - I like seeing the bag either go to the xray machine or into the back (depending on the airport). I feel like especially when the contents are not replacable, that the fewer "stops" between my hands and hte plane, the better.

I never check medical supplies except non-essential parts of my wheelchair (like the armrests and anti tips). I always tell the people which bags have medical supplies and their approximate value. Sometimes they write it down, sometimes not.

I never check medications or anything that helps with pain levels, even if you dont think it is needed on the plane. I even pack the benadryl (the only known allergy is my wife nad bees - I don't think we will find a bee at 30,000 ft, but you never know!)

If a bag has ONLY medical supplies, it is free and does not count toward your checked bags or your carry ons. You still have to get all this through security every time.

I don't know if it is an option, but I love traveling with Southwest - I get to board first, select my seat, cheap fares, and the first two bags are free.

 

[wuv tigger]

so carrying the duplicate bottles shouldn't be a problem for me.

I will need to refill my 7 day pill container as I will be gone longer than one week.

I also pack 4 days extra post 9/11.


THANKS for all the info!

 

[Bete]

i usually prefer indoor check in rather than curb side - I like seeing the bag either go to the xray machine or into the back (depending on the airport). I feel like especially when the contents are not replacable, that the fewer "stops" between my hands and hte plane, the better.

I never check medical supplies except non-essential parts of my wheelchair (like the armrests and anti tips). I always tell the people which bags have medical supplies and their approximate value. Sometimes they write it down, sometimes not.

I never check medications or anything that helps with pain levels, even if you dont think it is needed on the plane. I even pack the benadryl (the only known allergy is my wife nad bees - I don't think we will find a bee at 30,000 ft, but you never know!)

If a bag has ONLY medical supplies, it is free and does not count toward your checked bags or your carry ons. You still have to get all this through security every time.

I don't know if it is an option, but I love traveling with Southwest - I get to board first, select my seat, cheap fares, and the first two bags are free.

to doing a regular check-in. My supplies are mostly incontinent products for my mom. I use very special padding that's not sold at any regular stores, not even medical supply places without a special order. I will have a carry on with medicines and such, but this is in addition to those items. All of these incontinent products are extremely bulky, but light in weight. I need a week's worth; so, I know I can fill up a bigger suitcase.

Anyway, if there are any problems with the luggage being considered non-medical luggage the check-in process will address those issues right then and there and I'm correct in my thinking here? I rather have the luggage fee then be without these supplies for my mother.

 

[hastingsmom]

We travel with a service dog, and are flying Air Trans in August. I called them, and they are allowing us to have one complimentary checked bag for the dog's food as it is a "medical supply". I would think you could check medical supplies at no charge if you called and explained the situation.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Are there airports who still do curbside check-in these days (post-9/11)? Mostly, airlines like you to do online- and kiosk check-in instead of wait in line, but special needs cases are fine to do in-person wait-in-line check-in (just be sure to get to the airport extra early! I give myself two hours prior to flight time for domestic flights, since both waiting in line and going through security can take longer for me).

I travel with my service dog, so am not eligible to do online- or kiosk check-in. They are really supposed to charge me the first-bag fee of what the online fee is, but never do; not a huge deal, as I think it is only an extra two dollars or something. Sometimes getting my medical checked luggages (between one and three bags, depending on the type and length of the trip) through for free takes extra time, convincing, and showing a letter from the airline to me that those bags are indeed free. I got said letter after one airline agent rudely refused to check any of my medical bags (three) for free and charged me $350 or so (my non-medical bag was overweight, so that fee was valid and part of that cost)! When I complained to the airline, I asked for a response on letterhead so that I could use it in case the situation happened again. I have only had to pull out the letter once so far, but am glad I had it in that situation.

The last flight I was on (last week), I had one medical bag and the check-in guy made me open the bag so he could see that it was indeed medical-related supplies. A quick glance was all he needed; he didn't search the bag or go near it (he was at the computer and the bag was on the scale to the far side of my other bag). It was annoying, as I had to get the key out to unlock it, but I'm not going to complain about it because he did allow the bag for free (without me having to pull out my letter).

I check my medical bags for three reasons: one (the one I always use) is too large to be a carry-on, there are a lot of liquids in the contents of the bags (security takes long enough as it is without having to declare a bunch of liquids and explain to the agents who are unsure about them being allowed and all), and there is no way I can carry even the one extra bag (much less two or three bags) with me as carry-on.

I do keep meaning to make a tag for the bag with either a medical or handicapped symbol on it - this might help with check-in (likely not) but mostly hopefully the baggage handlers would see it and realize the bag gets priority on the plane so it doesn't get left behind. I am not sure if the bags' tags scanner info. reports the medical bags as such, so if they don't, the baggage guys have no idea the bag gets priority placement in the hold. Whether or not they will actually SEE the tag is left to chance, but it is better than nothing, right?

Anyway, if the check-in person tries to charge you for the medical bag (look up your airline's fees ahead of time so you know what is the normal baggage fee for your regular luggage, i.e. if the person tells you to pay $60 and you know the fee should only be $25 because the second bag is medical, you'll know to argue), tell them AGAIN that the certain bag is medical (lately they haven't been listening when I tell them, "1 regular bag, 1 medical bag," and take it to mean, "2 regular bags I can charge for,") and doesn't have a fee for it. If they flat-out refuse and cause a big issue, ask for a CRO (Complaint Resolution Officer/Official) and/or charge the fee to your card and then complain to the airline as soon as you can so they can refund you the money.

I don't think you can pay online for your bags during online check-in if you have a medical bag, as I was able to do online check-in once (during a contest promotion) and it gave me a message that I would have to do baggage check-in at the airport because of the medical bag (when I selected that I had a medical bag on the baggage page). Each airline is different, though.